The Plague Book :: Page 5

Page 1 of the Plague Book

Vernacular Transcript

Orders to be obserued,

the infection happen in houses dispersed in Villa-
ges, and separated from other houses, and that of
necessitie, for the seruing of their cattel, and manu-
ring of their ground, the said person cannot conti-
nue in their houses, then they to be neuerthelesse re-
strained from resorting into companie of others, ei-
ther publiquely or priuately during the said time of
restraint, and to weare some marke in their vpper-
most garments, or beare white rods in their hands
at such time as they shall goe abroade, and if there
be any doubt that the masters and owners of the
houses infected, will not duely obserue the directi-
ons of shutting vp their doores, specially in the
night, then shall there be appointed two or three
watchmen by turnes, which shalbe sworne to at-
tend and watch the house, and to apprehend any
person that shall come out of the house contrary to
order, and the same persons by order of the Iusti-
ces, shal be a competent time imprisoned in ye stocks
in the highway next to the house infected: and fur-
thermore, some speciall marke shalbe made and fix-
ed to the doores of euery of the infected houses, and
where any such houses shall be Innes or Alehou-
ses, the signes shalbe taken down for the time of the
restraint, and some crosse or other marke set vp in
the place thereof, to be a token of the sicknesse.

6 6 Item, they shall haue good regarde to chuse
honest persons that either shall collect the summes
assessed, or shall haue the custodie thereof, & out of
the said collection to allot a weekely proportion for
the finding of victuall, or fire, or medicines for the
poorer sort, during the tyme of their restraynt. And
whereas some persons being well disposed to yeeld
                                                                  almes

Modern Transcript

Orders to be observed,

the infection happen in houses dispersed in Villa-
ges, and separated from other houses, and that of
necessity, for the serving of their cattle, and manu-
ring of their ground, the said person cannot conti-
nue in their houses, then they to be nevertheless re-
strained from resorting into company of others, ei-
ther publicly or privately during the said time of
restraint, and to wear some mark in their upper-
most garments, or bear white rods in their hands
at such time as they shall go abroad, and if there
be any doubt that the masters and owners of the
houses infected, will not duly observe the directi-
ons of shutting up their doors, specially in the
night, then shall there be appointed two or three
watchmen by turns, which shall be sworn to at-
tend and watch the house, and to apprehend any
person that shall come out of the house contrary to
order, and the same persons by order of the Justi-
ces, shall be a competent time imprisoned in the stocks
in the highway next to the house infected: and fur-
thermore, some special mark shall be made and fix-
ed to the doors of every of the infected houses, and
where any such houses shall be Inns or Alehou-
ses, the signs shall be taken down for the time of the
restraint, and some cross or other mark set up in
the place thereof, to be a token of the sickness.

6 6 Item, they shall have good regard to choose
honest persons that either shall collect the sums
assessed, or shall have the custody thereof, & out of
the said collection to allot a weekly proportion for
the finding of victual, or fire, or medicines for the
poorer sort, during the time of their restraint.  And
whereas some persons being well disposed to yield
                                                                  alms

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